New predation records of monitor lizards on scolopendrid centipedes

🦎 Monitor lizards are monotypic reptiles belonging to the family Varanidae, currently comprising 88 species. They are carnivorous and generally large-bodied lizards that feed through scavenging and opportunistic predation of both invertebrate and vertebrate prey. Their diet consists of diferent invertebrates (e.g., annelids, insects, crustaceans) and vertebrates (mammals, fsh, reptiles, amphibians, birds), including even cannibalism. There is also a presence of centipedes (Arthropoda: Chilopoda) in their diets, though records of it are scarce.

🦎 All centipedes are equipped with forcipules, modifed front legs that serve as pincers, with which they inject their venom into their prey. Bark centipedes possess strong, biochemically diverse neurotoxic venoms with which they paralyze their prey, but the venoms also contain other properties (e.g., myotoxic and haemolytic toxins). External digestion is also possible, given that their venom contains proteolytic enzymes.

🦖 We here present fve observations of direct predation on centipedes by monitor lizards.

🦎There is ample documentation of bark centipedes preying on mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. However, in the available literature there have been no documented cases of centipedes feeding on monitor lizards. A possible explanation could be that many varanids are generally resistant to various types of toxins, although this was not yet confrmed for scolopendrid venom.

🐲 Nonetheless, varanids have been documented to prey on other venomous and toxic animals, including scorpions, toads, and snakes. Predation on such dangerous prey as scolopendrids could perhaps be benefcial for varanids. In addition to being an additional energy intake (especially with larger individuals), such dietary items could have positive efects on the predator. Recently, it has been shown that higher consumption of Scolopendra centipedes by juvenile Chinese Crocodile Lizards, Shinisaurus crocodilurus, promotes growth and maintenance of their gut microbiome homeostasis. Thus, predation on scolopendrids could also be potentially benefcial for monitor lizards in this or related matters, although further studies are required to be able to determine that conclusively.

👩‍🔬 Summary of all records from the literature including our new observations, more information and photos in the source article:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/392695363_New_predation_records_of_monitor_lizards_genus_Varanus_on_scolopendrid_centipedes_and_a_house_gecko_with_a_review_of_bark_centipedes_Scolopendromorpha_in_the_diet_of_varanid_lizards

Video of predation:

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